According to the Federal Government’s recalls website, “there is a risk that (a) cable insulation may melt or catch fire, which may pose a risk of injury to the vehicle occupants and other road users”.

A statement from Holden said an alternator cable “may have been assembled so it makes contact with a steel bracket on the battery tray”.

Under certain driving conditions, Holden says, movement of the engine may cause the cable to rub through the insulation.

“This may cause a short circuit. If the short circuit creates sufficient heat, there is a risk that the cable insulation may melt or potentially catch fire,” the Holden statement said.

Holden says drivers of affected may notice a battery warning light on the instrument cluster or “in more serious cases a small amount of smoke may be emitted from the engine bay area”.